Actress Joanna Lumley is flying out to Nepal to meet former Gurkha soldiers and their families in a week-long trip.

She was the public face of a campaign - launched in Kent where there is a large Gurkha community - to secure UK residency rights for all veterans.

Accompanied by members of her family and Peter Carroll, who started the campaign, Ms Lumley will meet Nepal's prime minister and president.

She said she was "humbled" by a visit which would be "such a privilege".

"It's thrilling, it really is," Ms Lumley said at London's Heathrow Airport, prior to her flight on Saturday evening.

"We were met by the most wonderful group of Gurkhas outside Terminal 3, with silk scarves and bunches of flowers.


"It's just incredible. I've never been to Nepal before, and this is really going to be just stunning," she added.

"I feel so humbled by the fact I'm going to meet so many ex-Gurkhas and their families, and see where they are and how they live.

"I don't think it can be anything other than wonderful."

Large crowds are expected to greet her on her arrival in Kathmandu on Sunday.

Mr Carroll said he understood there would be "a huge, huge reception at the airport".

"It's almost like a head of state visiting."

On Tuesday Ms Lumley will visit Jhapa and Dharan to meet Gurkhas.

Mr Carroll said some people were expected to walk for three days just to be there.

"I think it's going to be an amazingly emotional experience," he said.

In May, the government said all retired Gurkha soldiers - originally from Nepal - with at least four years service in the British Army, could stay in the UK.